Rollers Set For European Tour

The Australian Rollers are bound for Europe this month as the national wheelchair basketball team embarks on a key international tour ahead of the Asia Oceania Zone Championships in November.

The 12-man team will begin their tour at the 2025 Rollstuhlbasketball Nations Cup in Cologne, Germany from 13–17 August, where they will face Great Britain, the Netherlands, Poland and a European All-Star team. The team will then head to Varese, Italy for a five-game series against the Italian national team from 19–22 August.

Australian Rollers Head Coach Brad Ness said the tour marks an important step in setting up the team for success over the next Paralympic cycle.

“This tour is about building team culture and embedding the principles around What It Takes To Win for this new group,” Ness said. 

“We’re looking to set the tone leading into LA 2028 by establishing clear team values and core processes.”

“We’ll also be trialling different combinations and looking to fill the gaps left by not having Shaun Norris and Thomas McHugh in the group, while preparing for the Asia Oceania Championships in November – the qualification event for the 2026 World Cup.”

The touring lineup features veterans Tristan Knowles and Bill Latham, alongside Paris 2024 teammates Jannik Blair, Luke Pople, Jaylen Brown, Tom O’Neill-Thorne, Phil Evans and Frank Pinder.

They are joined by young gun Lachlin Dalton, who recently earned All-Star Five honours at the IWBF 3x3 Wheelchair Basketball World Championships in South Africa.

Ness said strong performances across the tour could influence final team selections for November’s Asia Oceania Championships.

“There could be some selection outcomes from this tour – it’s a valuable opportunity for a few new players to push for a spot in the final 12,” Ness said.

“We’ve still got a selection camp in September, but competing well over the next few weeks will definitely help those aiming to break into the group. More broadly, it’s about expanding our squad’s capabilities so we can adapt to different opponents and styles of play.”

With limited opportunities for the full group to play together outside of major tournaments, Ness emphasised the importance of on-court cohesion.

“Just being able to come together and build chemistry is one of the biggest advantages of playing in tours like this.”

Looking ahead, the Rollers are focused on blending experience with fresh energy as they begin their path to LA 2028.

“We’re still searching for the right mix of players to bridge the previous generation and the future,” Ness said.

“Our veterans are world-class, and with the right wingmen, there’s no reason we can’t improve on our Paris result and push for a podium. That starts with players like Dalton, Klein, Leard and Brown – each bringing a youthful brilliance that complements our leaders and strengthens us across the board.”

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